Joe Ford - Victim

Shelby County Sheriff’s Detectives have identified a Frayser man as the person found dead earlier this week in North Shelby County.

Deputies say the body of Joe Ford, 42, was found Tuesday afternoon in the backwaters of the Loosahatchie River by a man riding a bicycle along North Watkins near Highway 51.

Joe Ford lived in the 1500 block of Haywood Avenue where he shared a home with other relatives.  The home is several miles from where Ford’s body was discovered. 

Relatives had not seen Ford in several days but told Deputies he had a history of leaving the home unannounced.

Family members say they did not report Ford missing because he would always return home or be found as a patient in an area hospital.

It is still a mystery how Ford died.  The Shelby County Medical Examiner says there were no signs of trauma to Ford’s body.  When discovered this past week, Ford was wearing a fully-buttoned suit and lace-up dress shoes.